I’ve seen so many articles, blog posts, news updates about this virus, and yet again, I am jumping on the bandwagon of discussing it. It seems like everyday there’s new information about the virus, so I think the news is actually pretty interesting! I’m especially intrigued by the trends, like death rates, of different countries. And so here I am, writing yet another post about COVID-19.
As you probably know, the virus is most fatal for the older population. Therefore, it would make sense that the countries with the biggest proportion of elderlies, like Japan and Italy, would have the highest death rates. In Italy’s case, this is very evident. The number of deaths in Italy surpassed the number of deaths in China when the total number of cases in Italy was only half that of in China. The death rate in Italy is around 10%, which is pretty high, compared to other countries’. Italy’s older population does play a role in this: around 23% of the population is age 65 or older, and many of those who died were in their 80s and 90s. It could also be how the population is arranged: many elderlies live at home with 18-34 year olds, so the younger family members, who may not show many symptoms, can easily pass the virus on to the more vulnerable older family members. Another factor could be that the virus started spreading undetected, when measures, like the country-wide lockdown, were not yet imposed. Italy’s healthcare system is also straining under all of the cases, with a shortage of resources and workers, as nurses and doctors are also becoming infected. This forces doctors to make the tough decision of who to provide resources to, and it can’t be everyone. Other factors to consider: the death rate may actually be lower, considering the amount of people who have the virus but aren’t tested; other countries may just be behind Italy on the trend. Japan, on the other hand, was expected to have a coronavirus explosion, but it didn’t (or has not yet) happen. Some factors that could’ve played into this are Japan’s proximity to China, leading to earlier preparations, overall higher rates of handwashing than in European countries, and a culture of less physical contact, like hugging and handshaking. However, Japan also hasn’t been doing extensive testing, so the numbers may not reflect the true amount of people with the virus. If this is the case, there could be a spike in cases soon. Germany’s trend is interesting: it has one of the highest number of cases, but with a very low death rate. This could be due to a technique opposite of Japan’s: extensive testing in order to detect outbreaks early. Germany’s other policies, like restricting gatherings and closing nonessential businesses, are more or less the same as other countries’. Also, the median age of infected people in Germany is younger, and this could be due to successfully limiting contact with the older population. I think it’s so interesting that so many factors can contribute to how a virus affects a country. I had first thought that population age could be a good indicator of death rate. However, this is not the case: these three countries all have some of the oldest populations, but their death rates vary quite a bit. Nevertheless, I think it’s still beneficial to learn about other countries’ coronavirus situations to understand what works and doesn’t work for containing the virus. For the health of everyone, it is best to stay informed, so we can try to prevent the worst outcome. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! It’s definitely been a long couple of weeks, but I think this situation has helped me appreciate the little things in life, like going to the grocery store or hanging out with friends, even more.
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I think we can all agree that this is a strange time, and I’ll just state the obvious reason why: the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Here are some quick facts about the virus, although you’re already probably aware of them, as coronavirus has dominated the news, social media, and dinner conversations.
Happy New Year! Ever since I was young, 2020 seemed like such a distant future, so I can’t believe it’s already here. So far, my posts have been more involved in music, so for this post, I decided to discuss the aging world in general. According to the United Nations, by 2050, 1 in 6 people will be 65 years old or older (compared to 1 in 11 people in 2019). This means that the population of people 65 or older will be about doubled in this time. Developed countries will have a greater proportion of seniors, while less developed countries will have less, but the general trend is toward an older population. This brings along challenges in the healthcare system because of a greater demand for senior care but a decrease in young workers to take care of the seniors.
What causes this demographic shift? Along with all the technological advancements we see everyday, medicine is a great one. Antibiotics and vaccines have reduced the number of deaths due to communicable diseases. Sophisticated screening tools have helped doctors identify abnormalities earlier, leading to an earlier treatment. Astonishing breakthroughs, like using 3D printed body parts and gene therapy, have saved many people’s lives. Even just a broader knowledge about health has lead to people making more conscious, healthy choices, like quitting smoking and eating fresh foods. All of these and more have led to healthier, longer-living people. Another factor is changes in fertility rates. In the 1960s, the average number of children a woman had was 5. Now, the average is just below 2.5 children. This decrease in average number of children is due to more countries becoming developed and more women having the opportunity to obtain an education and career, making having children less of a priority. Although it may seem like in the near future, there won’t be enough people able to work, therefore bringing the economy into a crisis, it likely won’t be this way. Even if seniors can’t contribute to physical labor, they can still contribute wisdom and experience. Even more, age shouldn’t be the definition of ability, which can vary depending on the health of a person. I think the World Economic Forum brought up an interesting comparison about this concept: a pint of beer that cost $0.65 in 1952 costs $3.99 today. As just numbers, it seems like the price has gone up exponentially, but with inflation considered, the price has actually decreased. The inflation-adjusted price for the 1952 beer is $5.93. Similarly, a 75-year-old today has the same mortality rate as a 65-year-old in the 1950s. Who knows, as noted by David Sinclair, a Harvard genetics professor, it could be that by the end of the century, people will be 80 years old and still active and have the potential to live up to 150 years old |
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